It's time again to rock the vote for Rock Hall's Class of 2009 nominees

For the ninth year in a row, we're asking all good citizens of the rock 'n' roll capital of the world to do their civic duty and weigh in on the latest slate of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame candidates.

Among the hopefuls are Metallica, Run-D.M.C. and Cleveland's own Bobby Womack. And how's this for a refreshing change of scenery? The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, April 4, at Public Hall, right here in our fair city.

The average fan is excluded from casting an official ballot, a privilege reserved for music-biz insiders and previous inductees. But as always, your vote counts with us. We welcome write-in candidates and comments, too. You can vote online by click here. Or you can fill out our readers' choice ballot in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 10. We'll publish the results later in October.

Five of the nine official nominees will be chosen for the Rock Hall's Class of 2009. We'll find out in January who made the grade.

In the meantime, here's my annual spin on how the nominees stack up:


SAFE BETS

Metallica: Heavy-metal acts haven't been a priority for the hall. Heck, Black Sabbath had to be nominated eight times before they got in -- and when Ozzy & Co. finally did, Metallica handled the honors. Still, there's no denying these stalwart headbangers deserve to be enshrined themselves. And with the band now on tour behind a No. 1 album, Metallica should be front-of-mind for voters.

Little Anthony and the Imperials: Doo-wop groups are a dying breed, and the hall seems to be making an effort to acknowledge old-timers while they're still around to enjoy it. Fifty years after "Tears on My Pillow" was a Top 5 smash, look for tears of joy from Little Anthony and the Imperials when they accept an overdue honor.

The Stooges: Feel lucky, proto-punk? Surely the seventh time will be the charm for perennial also-rans Iggy Pop and pals. At least they got a foot in the door when Madonna asked them to perform in her place at the 2008 induction gala. "Ray of Light" never sounded . . . weirder.


TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Run-D.M.C.: I'd vote for them in a heartbeat. (Or is it a breakbeat?) However, it took three tries to induct Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, the only hip-hop act in the hall so far. "This is a rock ¤'n' roll museum -- you guys don't belong in here," a security guard played by Larry (Bud) Melman told Run-D.M.C. in the video for this groundbreaking trio's 1985 hit "King of Rock." Prophetic? Let's hope not.

Jeff Beck: He's already in the hall as a member of the Yardbirds, and rightly so. Honoring this virtuoso guitarist again for his horizon-broadening solo work would be a worthy gesture, even if most folks couldn't name one of his solo tunes if their lives depended on it. Then again, if Eric Clapton is a three-time Hall of Famer, Beck at least ought to be a two-timer.

Chic: After four previously unsuccessful nominations, will "Good Times" be deferred yet again for these R&B groove-meisters? It sure would make a great opening number for the gala.


LONG SHOTS

Bobby Womack: The homeboy in me would love to see this R&B veteran get his due, especially here in Womack's hometown. Remember the Rolling Stones oldie "It's All Over Now"? Womack wrote that, along with a slew of other hits for himself and others. Nonetheless, years of hard living took a toll on his career, making him a dark horse at best.

Wanda Jackson: When I told a colleague that two-time nominee Jackson was in the running again, he said -- and I quote -- "Who?" In the words of the Dixie Chicks: "There's your trouble." Jackson briefly moved in the same circles as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, although the so-called Queen of Rockabilly's reign was short-lived.

War: Long before Christopher Walken declared "I gotta have more cowbell!" in that immortal "Saturday Night Live" sketch, the clank-clank-clank of a cowbell drove War's "Low Rider." Unfortunately, this funky bunch won't be enshrined until the hall overcomes its blatant anti-cowbell bias, as evinced by its ongoing refusal to acknowledge the genius of Blue Oyster Cult.

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